Aquarium Cabinet Ventilation Please Help

[Jet915]

I just got a chiller, went on craigslist and got a jbj for half the price, working great.

 

[Brew12]

lol we dont run ac too much and usually my house temp stays 80 but the problem with the stand is its all closed i have one more tank with open stand and all good with it.

Just so you are aware, I don't think you are going to see the improvement you are looking for by just adding fans. It will help some, but it won't eliminate it. I feel the problem isn't evaporation, it is condensation. The inside of your stand and the water piping is colder than the air in the home. Water condenses on surfaces that are cooler than the surrounding air. That is why it is condensing in the sump. Even if you vent it out of the sump it will just start condensing on the aquarium itself and drip down the sides of the tank.

This is why I feel you are better off letting your tank temperature rise. Don't even be afraid to let it hit 79F or even 80F.

 

[Innocent_romeo]

what does that do?

 

[Innocent_romeo]

yeah i can try raising temp bu problem is i used egg crates for better lighting and if i try to maintain 78f my heater keeps running.lol i am stuck from everywhere seriously

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Check It Out.take a look on rear wall & bottom.
Water temp is 75

Seams like a leak(s). Check for leaks throughly

 

[Billldg]

I feel you on the AC bill, but its either run my AC setpoint down to keep the house cooler or run a chiller to cool the tank. I choose to run my AC down as its cheaper in the long run. I'm new to the hobby but not new to your problem of condensation as I am a HCAVR tech and condensation is a constant problem with refrigeration. The condensation problem is a humidity problem. The moisture is building up under the cabinet because of the dead air under the tank. Air is not moving under tank/stand causing the air to become saturated with moisture and it has to go somewhere. I would suggest putting a small axial fan under the cabinet to move the air. I would also check your connections on the flex tubing as it does become brittle over time and can possible crack at a connection. Good Luck.

 

[Innocent_romeo]

i Already have a small fan and i am leaving lil bit of door open for air exchange

 

[Innocent_romeo]

No Leaks For sure

 

[Innocent_romeo]

Just Raised the Temp but i am sure its not gonna maintain to 78 79 because of open top and heater keeps working on.

 

[Billdogg]

Having that fan in the stand is all well and good, but it is just moving already saturated air around inside the stand. The purpose to installing fans that will push air into the stand and then having someplace for it to escape will keep the moisture moving through, not staying in, the stand.

What type of fish are you keeping? I keep my system at 78, and that is considered a bit on the low side. 75 is really a bit cooler than you want it to be. I agree that allowing it to warm up a bit (to room temp or a bit above) will pretty much eliminate the problem.

And FWIW - it would appear that some of the plywood is already beginning to delaminate. If it continues much longer that stand will quickly become unsafe to use.

 

[Brew12]

Just Raised the Temp but i am sure its not gonna maintain to 78 79 because of open top and heater keeps working on.

Based on when you said this

I have a 200g tank with about a 40-50g sump. I have a small fan blowing across the surface of the sump water to keep the temp below 80.

I didn't suspect keeping the temperature up would be a problem. Have you redirected the fan by your sump so it isn't pointing at your sump anymore?

 

[Kyl]

I'd recommend some sort of external ventilation.

https://www.acinfinity.com/quiet-cabinet-fans/

I'm using those fans to cool my tanks via the light fixture mounts, and one on my electronics / power bar cupboard. Great for the price.

 

[Dom]

Actually I just Noticed that there are 2 holes in my stand for wiring to go outside but nothing more.my question js whi this moisture is being created?
is it because of water temp or what?

Moisture is coming from evaporation. Evaporation. Is how the tank cools. It's why we add a fan... to accelerate evaporation.

 

[Dom]

Just so you are aware, I don't think you are going to see the improvement you are looking for by just adding fans. It will help some, but it won't eliminate it. I feel the problem isn't evaporation, it is condensation. The inside of your stand and the water piping is colder than the air in the home. Water condenses on surfaces that are cooler than the surrounding air. That is why it is condensing in the sump. Even if you vent it out of the sump it will just start condensing on the aquarium itself and drip down the sides of the tank.

This is why I feel you are better off letting your tank temperature rise. Don't even be afraid to let it hit 79F or even 80F.

This is an excellent point.

It is the humidity in the air that is condensing on cooler temp of the tank water as it runs through the plumbing.

It is a temperature imbalance between the tank and the room air causing the problem.

I understand the AC bill thing. But I'd still pick that over a chiller. At least with the AC, everyone benefits! LOL

M choice would be to get the room temp down instead of bringing up the tank temp.

 

[Innocent_romeo]

we dont use ac much and our room temp moves 75-80.

 

[Innocent_romeo]

just increase heater temp.lets see if it helps and also i am going to cover the sump becase wateer is directly hitting filter pad maybe thats why its a lot of moisture

 

[Innocent_romeo]

Based on when you said this

I didn't suspect keeping the temperature up would be a problem. Have you redirected the fan by your sump so it isn't pointing at your sump anymore?

didnt get your pint?

 

[Innocent_romeo]

Having that fan in the stand is all well and good, but it is just moving already saturated air around inside the stand. The purpose to installing fans that will push air into the stand and then having someplace for it to escape will keep the moisture moving through, not staying in, the stand.

What type of fish are you keeping? I keep my system at 78, and that is considered a bit on the low side. 75 is really a bit cooler than you want it to be. I agree that allowing it to warm up a bit (to room temp or a bit above) will pretty much eliminate the problem.

And FWIW - it would appear that some of the plywood is already beginning to delaminate. If it continues much longer that stand will quickly become unsafe to use.

yeah wood is in bad condition as of now.

 

[Innocent_romeo]

i hate these kind of stand .my old tank has open back stand and never face any problems really

 

[Innocent_romeo]

How warm do you keep your house? Judging from the pictures it looks to be warmer than the 75F of the aquarium. I think you will be amazed at the improvement if you keep your tank temperature above your home temperature.

my house temp is 78 now without ac